Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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48099-2
ELECTRICAL OUTLET gAFETY OOVER
This invention relates to a protective device for an
electrical outlet.
Electrical outlets, typically mounted in the walls of
buildings, comprise a plurality of recesses to receive the
prongs of an electrical plug. Typically the outlets are
arranged in pairs, the so-called duplex outlet in North
America. The outlets are electrically alive and, as such,
can be a hazard when they arouse the curiosity of a child.
Insertion of an electrically conducting member into the
openings of the outlet can result in an electrical shock.
Attempts have been made to avoid this problem typically
by the provision of small plastic inserts having prongs that
fit in the electrically live openings. However, these
devices are not entirely appropriate. They are not
permanently attached to the outlet and removing them can be a
problem if they are to fulfill their function of making the
outlet electrically safe. If they are easy to move then, of
couræe, they are pointless. There is nothing in them to
require ingenuity in operation and any child having observed
their removal will be able to duplicate the feat. The point
is that they are normally difficult to remove so the child
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cannot remove them. However, what cannot be removed by a
child cannot, in certain circumstances, be removed by an
adult as they require the fingernails or the like to be
inserted under the cover.
Hinged covers for electrical outlets are known. They
are typically used on outdoor duplexes but their function is
to protect from the weather. There is no skill required to
operate them. The cover is opened in the manner of a door to
reveal the opening. These devices can be operated easily by
a child. However, it should be emphasized that, in general,
the problem with children occurs within the house where
electrical outlets are present in every room. Outlets
outside the house are not nearly as common and frequently can
be at a level or position where a child cannot reach.
There is therefore a need to provide a simple protective
device for an outlet that is pleasant in appearance and
requires some ingenuity in operation, sufficient ingenuity to
defeat a small child unable to understand that outlets
present a hazard.
The present invention provides a protective device that
completely covers the outlet but can be easily moved by the
application of a small amount of ingenuity.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a protective
device for an electrical outlet, the device comprising:
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a back plate having at least one opening for the outlet,
opposed sides and ends;
a pivotal cover member for the opening;
a catch member on the pivotal cover member;
resilient means urging the catch member outwardly; and
a recess on the back plate to receive the catch member
when the catch member is urged outwardly to hold the cover
member over the opening.
In the preferred, indeed usual embodiment, there will be
a pair of openings to cover a duplex outlet with a pair of
cover members, one for each outlet.
Aspects of the invention are illustrated in the drawing
in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protective device
lS according to the present invention in place over a duplex
outlet; and
Figure 2 is an exploded view of the protective device of
the present invention.
The drawings show a protective device for an electrical
outlet comprising a back plate 10 with, in the preferred
illustrated embodiment, a pair of openings 12 for an outlet
14. The electrical outlet 14 as shown in Figure 1 is a
conventional duplex outlet mounted in a wall 16. Back plate
10 has side walls 18 extending upwardly from it. There are
pivot pins 20 formed integrally with the back plate 10 at
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each end - only two of the four pins 20 are shown. There is
a relatively large opening 22 at the middle of each side wall
18 and recesses 24 at each end of each opening 22. In the
illustrated preferred embodiment there is also an inner wall
26 standing upwardly from the back plate 10 and extending to
surround the openings 12.
The protective device includes a pair of pivotal cover
members 28 for the openings 12. In Figure l one pivotal
cover member i8 shown open and one is shown closed. Each
pivotal cover member 28 includes a side walls 30 able to fit
within the side walls 18 of the back plate 10. There are
keyhole shaped openings 32 that are a press fit on the pins
20 to enable the pivotal cover members 28 to pivot relative
to the back plate 10. There are openings 34 in the side
walls 30 remote from the keyhole openings 32.
There are catch members 36 for the cover members 28 and
resilient means to urge the catch members 36 outwardly. The
arrangement is that the catch members engage the recesses 24
in the side walls 18 of the back plate lO as shown in Figure
1.
To achieve this effect the catch members 36 are mounted
on a spring in the form of U-shaped member 38. Member 38
extends around the three sides of the periphery of the
pivotal cover member 28. As shown particularly in Figure 2
there are chamfered side surface 40 on the catch members 36
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to allow them to contact and move over the edge of the back
plate side walls 18 to engage the recesses 24.
Grips 42 on the catch member facilitate movement by the
fingers. To facilitate use of the grips the openings 22 are
provided in the side walls 18 of the back plate 10. These
openings allow the fingers to contact the grips 42.
In use the device according to the present invention is
attached to wall 16 by mounting the back plate 10 to the wall
16 in a conventional manner. A small screw 44 is inserted
through opening 46 shown in Figure 2 in the back plate 10, to
attach the protective device of the present invention to the
duplex outlet 14. A threaded opening in the duplex outlet 14
is standard.
The protective device can be assembled at the factory or
in situ. In situ once the back plate is in position the
springs 38 are compressed so that the outer surfaces of the
grips fit within the walls 30. The grips 42 are then aligned
with the openings 34 and the spring 38 urges the grips 42 and
the catch members 36 outwardly through the openings 34. By
this means the spring 38, with the grips 42 and catch members
36 is retained securely within the pivotal cover member 28.
The pivotal cover member 28, with the spring 38 in place is
moved to align the keyhole shaped openings 32 with the pins
20 and pressed into place.
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It is equally easy to assemble the device prior to
mounting it on the wall. The same general procedure is
followed.
To close the protective cover it is simply moved
downwardly over the opening 12. The chamfered surface 40
slips easily over the walls 18 of the back plate 10 and when
the outer surface of the catch aligns with recess 24 the
spring 38 urges the catch member 36 outwardly. The flat
outer surface of the catch member 36 abuts the upper surface
of the recess 24 to secure the protective cover in position.
To release slight pressure is applied to the grips 42 by the
fingers and the pivotal cover member is pivoted outwardly to
expose the duplex. The fit of the walls 30 within the side
walls 18 of the back plate 10 is such that friction is
sufficient to maintain the cover members in a set position.
Furthermore, once a plug is inserted into the outlet 14 the
member 28 cannot close.
In this regard the wall 26 also acts to protect against
the insertion of a device by a child laterally, under the
head of a plug in position. That is the wall 26 provides an
additional safety feature.
To close the protective cover member it is simply
pressed downwardly as described above. The pivotal cover
members 28 may be operated independently. It is feasible to
have one cover member for one duplex but in those
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circumstances, one outlet may be uncovered while the other is
in use which is considered undesirable and the illustrated
embodiment is markedly preferred for a duplex outlet.
The apparatus may be made of cast metal or plastic. The
spring member 38 may be made of the same material as the rest
of the device. The necessary resilience is normally a
physical property of the material.
